Georgia blasting, demolition contractor pays more than $5K penalty after allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to work near dynamite

Employer:                                          Controlled Blasting Inc.

                                                            1159 Finch Road

                                                            Winder, GA 30680

Investigation findings: U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division investigators found Controlled Blasting Inc. – a blasting, demolition and construction contractor in Winder – allowed three 16- and 17-year-old employees to work in an area where explosives were stored and transported. The employer also directed these workers to drill and cover holes where dynamite was placed for demolition activities in and around Lawrenceville. The hazardous orders of federal child labor law prohibit these actions.

Civil Money Penalties Assessed:     $5,592 to address the child labor violations.                                 

Quote: “Employers struggling to fill open positions have increased the numbers of teens in jobs not traditionally occupied by young workers. Businesses who employ minor-aged workers must educate themselves on keeping these workers safe, especially those around hazardous conditions,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Steven Salazar in Atlanta. “We encourage employers to access our Youthrules.gov website or contact the Wage and Hour Division to learn how to keep these young workers safe on the job.”

Background: Employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE.

Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including information about protections for young workers on the department’s YouthRules! website. Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions – regardless of their immigration status – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.